Born in Beijing, IU YAN began her guzheng training at a young age. She graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) with a Master of Music degree in Guzheng Performance, under the tutelage of Professor Xu Lingzi.

Currently, she serves as: Artistic Director of Zheng Music Academy, Lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Instructor for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's Youth Chinese Orchestra, Tutor for the Junior Music Programme at the School of Music and Guzheng Major Tutor at the School of Chinese Opera of the HKAPA, Part-time Guzheng Instructor for the Hong Kong Music Office, Conductor of the Zheng Music Junior Ensemble.

An active soloist, IU YAN has held numerous recitals and performed across Beijing, Xi'an, Nanjing, and internationally in Singapore, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Taiwan, and the United States. She has collaborated with the HKAPA Symphony Orchestra and Chinese Orchestra, participated twice in the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's Professional Training Scheme, and served as a guest musician for the ensemble. Her cross-genre partnerships include the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Luo Jing Guzheng Ensemble, Hong Kong Philharmonic Chinese Orchestra, and more, often blending guzheng with Western instruments in chamber settings.

A frequent media guest, IU YAN has appeared on TVB and RTHK for performances and interviews. She is also a sought-after adjudicator for arts festivals and competitions.

In May 2025, she was invited to join the Asian Art Association Singapore (Chinese Traditional Instruments) as a Lifetime member and was appointed as a judge for the World Chinese Music Competition 2025.

The Guzheng, as one of the representative instruments of traditional Chinese music, carries millennia of cultural heritage while also possessing rich potential for contemporary expression. In my artistic practice, I consistently pursue a "dialogue between tradition and modernity," exploring the Guzheng's possibilities within diverse musical contexts.

I am passionate about fusing Chinese and Western instruments, such as combining the Guzheng with Western strings and wind instruments in chamber music to create unique sonic textures. Furthermore, I am dedicated to promoting Guzheng education, with a particular emphasis on nurturing young talents. I hope to enable the younger generation to not only receive solid technical training but also to understand the cultural connotations behind the music.

Music is not merely a display of skill but also a conduit for emotion. Through every performance and teaching opportunity, I aspire to let audiences experience the agility and profundity of the Guzheng, and to promote the continuous development of this art form on both Hong Kong and international stages.

2011: Awarded Gold Prize in the Youth Professional Category and the "Best Tutor Award" at the 2nd International Guzheng Competition.
2011: Received an award at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Concerto Competition and performed in collaboration with composer Professor He Zhanhao.
2011: Invited to perform in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, with a tour spanning Seoul (South Korea) and Hong Kong.
Since 2000: Resident Guzheng Performer for the "Music and Tea Gatherings" at the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong.
2019: Organized and performed in the (Joyful Guzheng Gathering) Teacher-Student Concert at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, celebrating 20 years of teaching.
2021: Invited with her daughter to participate in the "Big Hands, Little Hands" community concert by the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble.
2024: Successfully held the "Xin Sheng Zheng Yun" Teacher-Student Concert at Hong Kong City Hall.
2007: Founded the "Zheng Music" Ensemble, organizing international exchange concerts and seminars.
2013: Established the "Zheng Music Art Academy" to cultivate new Guzheng talents.
2023: Organized the 2nd "Cai Yue Cup" National Guzheng Elite Showcase Invitational Competition